What's That Smell?

0

0

0

0

0

(BlackDoctor.org) — When bad smells fill a room, you certainly do not want to wonder if it’s coming from you! After an intense workout or a garlicky dinner, the source of the odor may be a little more obvious. But some less expected factors, however, can also affect your body odor.

Fortunately, there’s a fix for that stench.

You Don’t Dry Off After Showering

A quick pat of the towel after showering may end up causing an odor problem later on. Moisture gets traps between folds of skin such as under the breasts, the groin area and between toes. Once moisture gets trapped and there is little to no air hitting these spots, bacteria and fungi can multiply and cause odor.

Fix it: After you shower and towel dry off, stand in front of a fan or set your blow dryer to the cool setting and wave it over those susceptible areas. If the odor is bad enough, you may also want to consider using an absorbent, antifungal powder in these areas.

You Slip Your Bare Feet into Shoes

Closed shoes can act as a bacteria breeding ground, trapping moisture and causing that stinky feet stench. When you don’t wear socks, there’s nothing to absorb the sweat from your feet.

Fix it: You can rub an antiperspirant on the bottom of your feet and between toes. It’s also a good idea to dab your feet with an antifungal powder if the stench tends to get bad. At night, soak your feet in 1 part vinegar and 2 parts water or a black tea soak for about 30 minutes. The tannins in black tea kill bacteria and close up pores, which help keep your feet dry.

You Brush Your Teeth Instead of Cleaning Your Whole Mouth

Your tongue is covered with thousands of small hair-like projections called papillae, which can trap and harbor tiny scraps of food. So even if you brush and floss regularly, small remains from your meals can hang behind, collecting bacteria and emitting bad breath.

Fix it: Mouthwashes may help, but the best way to remove bacteria, dead cells, and food debris from the crevices of your tongue is with an inexpensive tongue scraper. Brushing your tongue with a soft-bristled toothbrush works well too. Gently clean as far back as you can without gagging.